ICT to replace oil, says Google

 
Nigeria has the potential to use Information Communication Technology (ICT), to restore what has been lost in the oil sector, Google’s Policy and Government Relations Manager, Mrs Titi Akinsanmi has said.
She said Nigeria has a vibrant technology sector which has lots of opportunities to tap into.

“We have vibrant ICT companies including the big known companies like Jumia and Konga and the young companies that develop apps that make a difference in the way people live their lives,” she said.
She noted that applications built around chats and games have huge investment prospects as oil revenues fall.
She said a research carried out about two years ago on the impact of the internet on the economy showed that ICT sector already contributes at least three per cent GDP in Nigeria.

“If we can have three per cent contribution from the ICT sector in our GDP where there is no focus in the sector, it means if we focus more on the sector the GDP will increase,” she said.

She said part of what Google has been doing over the last five years in the country is to work with a range of partners to develop the ICT ecosystem. “We also work with institutions within government; we work with media and the education sectors to enable people contribute to the technology sector. We at Google know that if people have the access and the funds, they will use our products and that is what we are really after, because we are here to make profit in our business,” she said.
She said there are many opportunities in the ICT sector, including the opportunity to become small multimedia size business online, developing apps for Android operating systems and developing apps around maps.
She called for training to develop the ICT sector, saying there is a lot of work to be done in that area, adding that if people do not have the skills, they will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities around them.

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